iRobot Roomba i3 Vs. i7 Robot Vacuums | Comparison 2024

iRobot i3 Vs. iRobot i7 Robot Vacuum (Differences): These two powerful robot vacuums from iRobot both provide the suction and powered brushes to clean both carpets and hard floors. Both models have the Tangle-Free Brushless Rollers which gets rid of brushes, increasing suction and airflow no matter what surface it is vacuuming. These brushless Extractors are rubber, allowing for better contact with floor surfaces. Both have 10x suction vs. older models.

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Both vacuums are made to tackle dirt, dust and pet hair. Both robots are Wifi connected with APP to program and control the vacuum. Both have Dirt Detect™ Series 2 Technology with Persistent Pass which uses both optical and acoustic sensors to identify dirtier areas. Both models map the floor, but the i7 has a much more sophisticated Imprint Smart Mapping technology. Both models have the Recharge & Resume feature, so when the battery is low it comes back to base, recharges, then resumes cleaning. Both models can be commanded by voice through the APP, Alexa, or Google.

The main differences between the iRobot Roomba i3 (3150) and iRobot i7 (7150) are: The i7 model has more advanced features. The i7 has a longer battery life (120 vs 90 minutes). The iRobot I7 (7150) has features not on the i3 including: Imprint Smart Mapping, (iAdapt 3.0), Whole Floor and selected room cleaning, and Carpet Boost. The i7 includes a Virtual Wall Barrier, which keeps the robot vacuum away from rooms you don’t want vacuumed. The i3 does not have this accessory but it can be purchased. See the comparison chart below for key differences in features.

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The Bottom Line: Both robotic vacuums are capable of cleaning both hard floors and carpets. The i7 delivers a longer battery life, although both have the Recharge & Resume feature, which allows for longer cleaning times regardless of battery capacity. The i7 has more technology to better clean floors.

For programming, the superior i7 will allow you to clean an entire floor and program, just the rooms you want done, thanks to its Smart Mapping Feature. VSLAM technology is only available in the i7, allowing it to map the most efficient cleaning route. The i7 also delivers more sensors to detect dirt, better navigation (iAdapt 3.0), and higher suction on carpets (Carpet Boost). The iRobot i3 is somewhat cheaper than the i7.

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What makes iRobot Unique: iRobot in 2002 developed its first Roomba robot vacuum cleaner. Although iRobot was not the first to make a robot vacuum, it was the first to have a commercially successful one. iRobot now has 18 years of experience developing Roomba vacuums, and has what we believe are the most sophisticated models on the market. Software is what drives the robot vacuum, and its sensors, which is why iRobot is the leader in this area. A couple of years ago, iRobot introduced rubber extractor brushes instead of traditional brushrolls, which increased suction and cleaning power.

Virtual Wall Barriers: iRobot developed a unique add-on that comes standard with the Roomba i7 called a Virtual Wall Barrier. This device is like a force field, and keeps the Robot from entering a room, or leaving a room. There is also a Halo mode that allows you to block the robot from Pet Bowls, or other problem items on the floor. You can buy one of these as an optional accessory for the i3.

Clean Base Option: Both the i3 and i7 offer upgrade models called the i3+ and i7+ that has a base that removes and stores dirt from the irobot dust bin. The base can hold up to 30 times the dirt of the bin on the robot. The dirt and dust goes automatically into a disposable dust bag. This allows both units to be maintenance free till the dust bag is full, so you don’t have to empty it after every use.

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Robotic Vacuum Glossary of Terms

Tangle-free brushless Extractors = These are unique to iRobot models. These extractors do away with the main brushes with a new durable rubber-tread design that avoids hair and pet hair tangles, great for pet owners. The rubber extractors are easily removable for cleaning. On-Board Scheduling = Robot Vacuum can be scheduled to perform cleaning sessions even when you’re not home. The i7 has advanced programming that allows you to program the robot to only clean certain rooms. High Efficiency Filter = This type of filter is the best type of dirt filtration on a vacuum. This will remove the smallest particles of dirt, dust, and pet hair so that you don’t breathe in what you are vacuuming. This is especially important for those with allergies, and those with pets. Imprint Smart Mapping = The iRobot i7 and i7+ create and store maps of your rooms so they can efficiently vacuum them. You can see this map of your rooms on the iRobot® HOME App and tell the APP which rooms you want cleaned. This feature is only available on the higher end Roomba models. Virtual Wall = Available on select iRobot Vacuums like the i7. Tells the vacuum not to enter a certain area, and restrict a robot vacuum to a specific area or room. An invisible barrier that the vacuum will not pass through. Such as a doorway. The i7 has a Dual model Virtual Wall, which has a new Halo mode, which will also allow you to keep the iRobot away from an object, such as a pet bowl. WiFi Connected/Smartphone Controlled = Some of the latest robot vacuums have built-in WiFi, which allows you to control, and schedule cleaning of your vacuum by using an APP on your smartphone or tablet. This means that you can be on your couch, or even away from your home and still be able to control your robotic vacuum. Dirt Detect™ Sensors = Indicate where dirt is embedded in the carpet, so the vacuum can know to concentrate on that area. Auto-Charge & Resume = This feature allows the robot vacuum to recharge its batteries, and then resume cleaning where it left off, extending the cleaning time beyond one battery charge. Carpet Boost System = This feature available on the new iRobot i7 which provides up to 10x the air power on carpet and rugs, for better pickup of dirt, dust, and pet hair.

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